Courtney Warren is a Texas-based interior designer whose work has been featured in Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Apartment Therapy, and Today.com. She is a frequent consultant on Fox 4 TV’s Good Day program in Dallas, was ranked in the top 3 percent of interior designers in the US by Houzz.com, and starred in the Dallas episode of TLC’sFour Houses. She delights in helping overwhelmed clients create beautiful spaces—and will never turn down a warm chocolate chip cookie or Diet Dr Pepper.

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2 Custom Details that make a Huge Impact

Design Tips

February 23, 2017

HGTV. Does watching all the house renovation, updates and restoration make you want to raise your hammer and break through your existing wall like the Kool-Aid man? Don’t break that wall just yet! There are some easy, low-level changes you can make to your existing home without making a mess and breaking the bank.

Custom Woodwork Details

When we installed our kitchen cabinets, Pinterest had my heart ablaze. I think I actually showed our contractor a photo of Tom Brady’s kitchen, and said, “I want this.” Appropriately, he laughed like it was a joke. I laughed too, but inwardly I cried. Sure, I am not a NFL quarterback married to a supermodel (or am I? ) but I want beautiful cabinetry too! I settled for beautiful cabinets with a plain island front, then later, hired a woodworker to add details. My island started simple, but now has amazing woodworking that cost me a small percentage than if I had installed it from the beginning. I had to be patient and do things in steps to make it a reality for my timeline and budget.

Doors

Doors are such an easy way to make a big WOW statement! With my pantry door, I wanted to use the beautiful rounded screen door off the front porch and include it in the angles of the home. Such a neat door was wasted out there, in my opinion! We had the pantry built around this door, but if you already live in your home, that is not always possible. It might be that you can add an old door to your existing door frame with a little work and a saw. Or buy a brand new door to fit, and make it look unique with paint, glass, distressing or other details. Pinterest is full of tutorials for someone with a paintbrush, tape measure and weekend afternoon free! Is that a project you could take on?

Remember— don’t despair if seeing other great houses leaves you wanting more. You can love your home- just spend a little time and creativity and start with small changes that improve your satisfaction. And remember- the home is so much more than what we can see- the most important thing in our home is the people we love! Don’t you agree!!??

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